With a snap, Archer was standing in an unfamiliar room. There was a large desk with ports flanking it. A large zebra fish floated serenely in a tank set into the wall. Captain Picard immediately strode to a replicator set nearby.
"Is there anything I can get you?"
"No, thanks…I'm fine." Captain Archer was too busy studying the model of a starship on the end table across the room.
Captain Picard spoke to the replicator. "Tea, Earl Grey, hot." Taking his tea and carefully setting it on his desk Captain Picard sat down. Noting the interest Captain Archer was showing in the model of the NCC-7100 he paused to let the younger man study it for a moment.
Realizing that the other captain was waiting on him, Captain Archer came over and sat down. "She's a beauty. What's her name?" He asked, indicating the model.
Captain Picard took a sip of his tea. "I'm afraid I can't tell you that. We're already contaminating the time line by asking Junior to let you retain your memories of what has transpired."
Captain Archer nodded, his face resigned. "I understand. At least I can see that Starfleet has given you a larger ready room. You should see mine. It's a closet in comparison!"
Setting his mug of tea down Captain Picard met the other man's gaze. "I have seen your ready room. Starfleet put it in its museum. It's part of the requisite tour for all recruits." Seeing the surprise and sadness on the other captain's face he spoke again. "There is something I would like you to see, however." Pressing a button on his desk Captain Picard said, "Mr. McDowell, please clear the Bridge. This is to include you. Please allow everyone to return in ten minutes time. Computer, all command functions return to me please, authorization Picard Alpha one."
A feminine voice came from nowhere, startling Captain Archer. "All command functions returned to Picard, Jean-Luc."
"Who was that?" Captain Archer asked.
"That voice you heard was the Enterprise. Would you like to meet her?" Captain Picard said.
Coming around his desk Captain Picard indicated the door to Captain Archer. "If you would accompany me this way I will show you." Captain Archer stood and went to the door and it whooshed open before him. The two men walked out onto the Bridge.
Captain Archer stood rooted in the center of the Bridge. Captain Picard could see how affected the other man was by the sight of the Enterprise, NCC - 1701 E. This is what his father's engine had spawned, what Captain Archer's beloved Enterprise had grown into. When their eyes met again, Captain Picard indicated his chair. "Please, have a seat. I can't tell you anything about your future or my time, but this is the least I can do for you."
Captain Archer nodded briefly; not speaking. His eyes were bright with unshed tears. Gingerly, he sat in the command chair and surveyed the rest of the bridge. Breaking the silence he asked, "How fast can she go?" His voice was hoarse with emotion.
"Warp nine, although in an emergency Mr. LaForge has coaxed a bit more out of her. But he is rather touchy about pushing his engines," replied Captain Picard as he looked out the view screen, giving the other man some privacy.
"Trip is pretty touchy with his engines too. He would have loved to see this." Captain Picard heard the other man inhale deeply, and hold it for a moment. As it was let go he heard Captain Archer rise.
"She is a beauty." He said, as he came to stand beside Captain Picard. "Thank you, Captain. I will treasure this memory…always."
Captain Picard seemed to understand all that Captain Archer didn't say. It was time for Jonathan Archer to go back to his own time. Calling out, he had Junior with him in an instant.
"Junior, thank you for bringing us here, but it is time for Captain Archer to be returned to his own time. Did you place all of the rest back where they came from?" Captain Picard asked.
Junior nodded. "Yes sir. Captain Riker and Counselor Troi are back on the Titan and will speak with you next week, Mr. Worf has been returned to his duty station, and Dr. Crusher is waiting for you in your cabin."
An embarrassed Captain Picard thanked the boy and tried not to notice the suppressed smile on Captain Archer's face. "Very good, would you please take Captain Archer and his crew home now? Just as we discussed earlier, if you please." He turned to Captain Archer.
"It has been a pleasure to meet you, sir. It was unfortunate circumstances, but…" Captain Picard trailed off as he shook the other man's hand.
"Yes, all's well that end's well. It was a pleasure to meet both you and Captain Janeway, and to see such fine ships. It is heartening to see what Starfleet will become in time." Turning to Junior he said, "Just as we discussed, correct?"
A much more subdued and respectful boy looked back at them. "Yes sir. Just as discussed." With a flash they were gone.
Captain Picard nodded to himself and looked around the bridge, at ease with his place in the world. He still had command of the best ship in the fleet, had lived through being assimilated into the Borg, and the woman he loved was waiting for him in his cabin. As he headed for the turbolift he realized that he was content. All was as it should be.
In a heartbeat Archer and the boy were standing in his own familiar ready room. Nothing beeped or whirred. The stars stood momentarily still. Captain Archer looked around and took a deep breath, relieved to be home at last. Turning to look at Junior, he said, "Are all my crew back where and how I asked you to put them?"
The boy looked up at him and Captain Archer was struck by the contrasts contained within Junior. He looked and acted so young most of the time, but had moments of maturity that made him seem like an old man trapped in a youthful body. But overlaying all of that was a deep loneliness that made him almost pitiable. Extending his hand to Junior, he saw the surprise and happiness wash over the boy's face. "I would like to say this has been a pleasure, but it has not." As the boy's expression clouded, Captain Archer continued, clapping the boy on the shoulder. "But I am glad to have met you, and I wish you well, son. You would do well to stick with Captain Picard. I don't think that my time is ready for the likes of you yet, young man."
The boy's face lit up again. "Yes sir, I am sorry, but…well…" Junior trailed off, unsure of what to say.
Captain Archer rescued him. "Enjoy your time visiting Shakespeare and give Captain Picard my best."
With a smile full of mischief, Junior replied, "Yes sir. Bye!" and with a last brilliant flash he was gone. Time started once more.
Pulling a cloth bundle from his uniform pocket he sat down at his desk. Unwrapping it he revealed a beautiful copper and pearl necklace with matching earrings. Archer was glad that Junior had allowed him to keep this. Perhaps someday he would have the opportunity to give it to Hoshi. He knew that to have an opportunity, he would have to take the first step.
Archer turned his chair to look out the port, contemplating his decision. The stars flew by, the engines hummed with life; all was as it should be, and he was content.
An angry Q paced back and forth in Captain Janeway's Ready Room, Janeway was giving him a piece of her mind and he didn't like it very much.
"Come off it Q. You know you shouldn't have done that, and this time Junior got involved! What's going to happen next time? Who's going to suffer next?" She demanded.
"It wasn't so bad. In fact, it was a real learning experience for him." Protested Q.
"Listen, Q" hissed Janeway, her finger poking into Q's chest. "You gave me the job of being his godmother, so I'm going to do it. Lay off the experiments for a few millennia. Let him grown up first before you try and warp the boy's psyche."
Q opened his mouth to deliver his retort but Janeway cut him off again, poking him once more to make her point.
"In fact, you should be stepping up and acting like his father. A growing boy has questions and if you'd be there to answer them, Junior wouldn't have to go toying with innocent bystanders to find out the answers."
Q closed his mouth, despite how irritating Janeway could be, she was right. Although, he hated it when she was right. "Fine." He snapped. "I'll start acting like his father, but you have to do one thing for me."
Janeway looked at Q coolly. "Oh, and what would that be?"
"Stop taking him to Fair Haven. I hate being called Da!"
Janeway laughed, her earlier anger gone. "Done!"
With a flash Q was gone.
Sitting back down at her desk, she sipped her coffee and thought about Jonathan Archer, and wondered how he was coping with his decision. Her train of thought drifted to decisions she had made and come to regret. A beep broke into her thoughts.
"Come." She called out.
Chakotay came into the room, PADD in hand. "Here are the reports you wanted to go over. Is now a good time?" he asked, sitting down in front of her desk.
Janeway considered briefly. "Now is alright, but tonight over dinner would be better."
Chakotay looked up, his face devoid of emotion. "But I thought…we weren't going to do that any longer." He said as he carefully set the PADD down on the desk, not meeting her eyes.
"Chakotay," she said, her voice quiet and low, "I was wrong. And I'm sorry I hurt you. And if you're still interested…if it's not too late…" she trailed off, uncertain now.
Chakotay looked up and smiled, his cheeks dimpling in a way that she found distracting. "Kathryn, I'd rather have you late then never." He stood and picked up the PADD. "But let's do dinner in my quarters, I seem to remember you're a horrible cook!"
She laughed, "You're right. But there are other things that I'm very good at." She said with a hint of suggestion in her voice.
Chakotay cocked an eyebrow at her. "Well then, dinner at 1900 then." And he walked out whistling, a bounce in his step.
Taking a sip of her coffee, Janeway stared at the closed door. She smiled. They should have never stopped loving each other, but now perhaps, all was as it should be.
T'Pol stirred in her sleep and awoke. The room was dark, lit only by the stars rushing by. Sitting up in bed she reached and felt her t'hy'la beside her, breathing evenly. She had had the strangest dream but could not recollect precisely what it had been about. It left her unsettled and she felt the need to meditate. Trip Tucker inhaled deeply, his eyes opening. Rolling over, he looked at T'Pol, still sitting up in bed. He reached out for her.
"What's the matter, darlin'?" he murmured, his voice husky with sleep.
T'Pol did not meet his gaze. "I had…a…nightmare. It left me disoriented and in need of meditation."
Trip caught her hand in his and tugged at her gently. "Come here. It's the middle of the night; maybe you don't need to meditate. Maybe you just need this." He said, as he pulled her into him, enfolding her in his arms.
T'Pol contemplated his statement. He was right. All she needed at this moment to ease her distress was him. Closing her eyes, she relaxed in his embrace and set the dream aside. She would reflect on it at a later date. Right now, all was as it should be, and she was content.
Travis placed his tray down and sat next to Malcolm in the mess hall. "So I've thought of a some new movies for Trip to add to the movie night roster." Travis said, as he dug into his breakfast.
Malcolm raised an eyebrow in question but kept eating.
Swallowing, Travis went on, "These, I know, even you'll like. It'll be a double header. Spartacus and 300!"
Malcolm raised both eyebrows considering. He swallowed and nodded. "Brilliant! Now that would be worth watching. Sword fights?" he asked.
"Yup! Lots of them."
"Gladiators?"
"Those too!"
Malcolm nodded once more. "I'd like that very much. Good suggestion. What made you think of those two in particular?"
Travis shrugged. "I don't know. I woke up thinking about them and knew that you'd love watching them. So I thought I'd mention it."
"Thank you, that was thoughtful." Malcolm replied.
Travis smiled in response and applied himself to his pancakes. Malcolm glanced at his friend and realized that Travis was his friend. Just like the rest of the bridge crew. He had a family, and it filled the hole inside him. All was finally as it should be, and he was content.
Hoshi walked into the captain's Dining Room at 0730. "Sir, you wanted to see me?"
Captain Archer stood from the table and indicated a chair to Hoshi. Waiting till she sat, he reseated himself and reached for his napkin. "Yes, Hoshi. I realized that we missed our last scheduled breakfast. I believe you were on an away team when it came up in the rotation. I just thought that I should rectify that and we should have our time together. Orange juice?"
Hoshi looked at Captain Archer, a little perplexed. Accepting the offered juice, she took a sip and tried to put her finger on what was different about him. He seemed more relaxed then she had seen him in a long time. He smiled at her as she met his eyes. Setting her glass down Hoshi decided to enjoy the breakfast for what it was and shake off the odd feeling that had been hanging over her since she had woken that morning.
She had woken up thinking in Latin. It had been years since she had done something like that, and it only ever happened when she had been immersed in a language. Knowing that the last time she had used Latin was briefly when she was classifying some new plant material to be sent back to Earth, she couldn't think of why her mind was filled with the dead language.
Perhaps it had been her strange dreams. She had dreamt of Rome, but not the Rome she had seen while visiting Italy. This was Rome as it had been in its heyday, something only seen in artists' renderings and history books. But that wasn't the half of it. Jon had been there…in full Roman kit…and he looked good. She smiled in remembrance.
"Something funny?" Jon asked, breaking into her train of thought.
"No sir, I was just thinking about a strange dream I had last night," she replied.
"Please, its just us. Call me Jon." Taking a bite from his pancake, he chewed and swallowed, then continued. "So, tell me about this dream. Was it a good one?"
"Hmm…it was…intriguing." And she quickly turned the conversation to other topics. A sense of rightness came over her as they bantered back and forth over breakfast. They hadn't been like this since before Enterprise had launched. She had missed this. The part of her that she had buried long ago, the part that had always loved Jon, began to come to the surface. Instead of squashing it back down, she let it rise. It felt right for some reason. She smiled and laughed in response to the joke Jon had just told. All was as it should be, and she was content.
Author's End Notes:
All of my historical references are as accurate as I could make them. While I don't know that Octavius would have been as high handed to take a slave from a citizen, he certainly had the power to do so.
Slavery was different in the Roman Empire then in other historical periods and in other cultures. While there were harsh masters and abused slaves, the system that Rome had in place was more akin to indentured servitude for the most part. Unfortunately, slaves were also taken in war, and many were used for onerous or dangerous tasks. Many more were taken to the Colliseum as fodder for the amusement of others.
In regards to the crew of TNG and Voyager I tried to stay true to canon right down to the call numbers on the ship model in Picard's ready room. The only place I intentionally deviated was in rekindling the romantic relationship between Janeway and Chakotay. I never forgave the show's writers for squashing this and it was that fact that first got me reading fan fiction because I knew that they needed a happy ending somewhere.
